Screw-in fluorescent lighting fixture



Oct. 16, 1962 E. e. REM E 3,059,137

SCREW-IN FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed Nov. 22, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet '1 ATTORNEYS ZwARDGi/PEAVES I INVENTOR BY [1 1 I I 1962 E.G. REAVES SCREW-IN FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed Nov. 22,1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [0w FIFO 6. REA vs 5 ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,059,137 SCREW-1N FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Edward G.Reaves, New York, N.Y. (2419 Davidson Ave, Central Station, Bronx 68,N.Y.) Original application Nov. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 693,276, new PatentNo. 2,943,233, dated June 28, 1960. Divided and this application June28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,321 18 Claims. (Q1. 313-204) This inventionrelates to a fluorescent lighting fixture of the type having a toroidaltube.

The present application is a division of my prior application, entitledFluorescent Lighting, Serial No. 698,276, filed November 22, 1957, nowPatent No. 2,943,238.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lightingfixture of spherical shape and of pleasing appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescentlighting fixture of spherical shape which will uniformly diffuse thelight rays to all parts of the room in which the lighting fixture isused.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescentlighting fixture of spherical shape having an improved support for thetoroidal tube.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide afluorescent lighting fixture of spherical shape which is adapted to bearranged seriatim with identical fixtures to supply increasedillumination to any desired degree.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide afluorescent lighting fixture of spherical shape having a socket thereinfor an ordinary bulb, which may provide auxiliary illumination or beused as a night lamp.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide afluorescent lighting fixture comprised by two complementary hollowhemispheres, which form an enclosure for the on and oil? switch, starterand ballast reactor.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will become apparentfrom the following specification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the fluorescent lighting fixtureaccording to the present invention, with the toroidal tube being shownin section.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the fluorescent lighting fixture.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the section line 3-3 ofFIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the internalcomponents of the lighting fixture.

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the section line 4-4 of FIG.3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing one of themounting brackets for the toroidal tube.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of two of the lighting fixturesconnected seriatim.

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the internal connections within thelighting fixture.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and to FIGS.

1 and 2 in particular, the fluorescent lighting fixture according to thepresent invention is here generally designated by the reference numeral10 and is shown as comice prised in part by two hemispherical top andbottom sections 10a and 1%, respectively, of sheet material. The exactmaterial of which these hemispherical sections are made is of noparticular importance, but polished brass is commonly used in the makingof lighting fixtures and has been found satisfactory in this case toprovide light reflective surfaces for the hemispherical sections formingthe spherical body. The two (2) hemispherical sections 10a and 10b alignalong the horizontal diametral plane. The top hemispherical section 10ais inset adjacent its bottom to form a flange 11, which receives thebottom hemispherical section adjacent its top, so that the twohemispherical sections are flush over their outer curvilinear surfaces.

The toroidal fluorescent tube is shown at 12. This tube is interruptedfor a short part of its arcuate length and in the interrupted segmentthere is positioned a plug element 13. This plug element carries four(4) pins (not shown), which are respectively connected to the electrodes14-14 (FIG. 5) of the tube. A connector element 15 has four (4) sockets(also not shown) therein, which respectively receive the pins on theplug element 1 2, and from these socket elements four (4) conductorsextend through a hole 16 in the top hemispherical section 1% to theinterior of the latter.

The fluorescent tube 12 is supported by a plurality of brackets 17,comprised in part by arms which have arcuate ends 17a, for receiving thetube. At their inner ends these brackets are received between theflanges of channel members 19 and are secured to the bottoms of thesechannel members by rivets 18, as shown in FIG. 4. The channel members 19have their flanges cut away at their inner ends and the bottoms are bentdownwardly to form lugs 19a. Screws 20 extend freely through suitableholes in the lugs 19a, the Wall of the lower hemispherical section 10badjacent the top of the latter, and are received in suitablescrew-threaded holes in the flange 11 on the top hemispherical section10a. If desired, nuts 21 may be soldered on the outer surface of theflange 11 to provide additional thread length for the screws 20. Bymaking the brackets in two (2) pieces, 17 and 19, the arms 17 may be ofdifferent lengths and toroidal fluorescent tubes 12 of diflerentdiameters may be used on the same fixture. Three (3) of the brackets 17,spaced 120 apart, around the hemispherical sections 10a and 10b, arepreferably used, but a greater or lesser number may be used, if desired.

At its top the upper hemispherical section 10a has mounted thereon alongits vertical axis, a conventional Edison type screw plug 22. The latterhas a base 23 of Bakelite, or other phenolic condensation product, andscrews 24 extend freely through suitable holes in this base and the topof the hemispherical section and have nuts (not shown) on their lowerends.

The top hemispherical section 19a also has a hole 26 therein, throughwhich the starter 27 freely extends, so as to be accessible andremovable and replaceable from the exterior of the fixture.

On the interior of the top hemispherical section 10a, the starter 2'7 isreceived in a socket 28, which is secured by rivets 29 to the bottom ofa generally U shaped bracket 30. This bracket has inturned lugs 30a-30aat its upper ends and screws 31-31 extend freely through holes in thetop hemispherical section and are received in suitable screw threadedholes in the lugs a 30a. A single pole, three (3) way switch 32 ismounted in the bottom hemispherical section 10b by screws 33-33, whichextend through suit-able holes in the hemispherical section and carrylugs 3434 at their outer ends, which lugs engagethe casing of theswitch. A pull chain 38 extends through a suitable hole 37 in thehemispherical section and preferably has a pendant 39 at its lower end.

A ballast reactor designated generally by the reference numeral 40, isalso mounted in the bottom hemispherical section 1012. This ballastreactor is enclosed by a casing 41, which has oppositely extending lugs41a41a, at its bottom. Screws 4242 extend freely through suitablerholesin the hemispherical section and are received in suitable screw-threadedholes in the lugs 41a41a.

An Edison type socket designated generally by the reference numeral 44,is mounted in a suitable hole in the hemispherical bottom section 10band concentrically posi-l tioned with respect to the vertical axis ofthe latter. This socket is comprised in part by a hub 45, which has theusual lamp base rolled -thread on' its interior, and has a flange 45a,which abuts the bottom of the hemispherical section. An externallythreaded sleeve 46 surrounds the hub 45 and is received in a suitablescrew-threaded hole in the bottom hemispherical section and serves tohold the flange 45 against thebottom of the latter.

As shown in FIG. 5, one fluorescent lighting fixture according to theinvention may be inserted in the bottom of another by screwing thetop'22 on the first light- 7 ing fixture into the socket 44 of thesecond' .the bottom socket 44 of the fluorescent lighting fixture tohsupply increased illumination or to provide a night lig t.

A wiring diagram is shown in FIG. 6. One electrode 14 of the fluorescenttube 12 is connected to one side of an ordinary 110 Volt AC. linethrough the ballast reactor the other electrode 14 is connected to theother side of the AC. line through the three (3) way switch 32; theelectrodes 1414 are connected together through the starter 27. -It willbe understood that the connections to the AC. power line are through theplug 22. The three 3) way switch 32 has a movable arm 35 andcontacts'36a, 36b, 36c and 36d. When the arm 35 is on the contact 36a,the circuit is completed through the toroidal tube 12; when the arm 35is on both the contacts 35b andSSc, the circuit is completed through thetoroidal tube 12 and either a second identical fluorescent lightingfixture, as shown in FIG. 5, or the'incandescent bulb 48; and when thearm is on the contact 36d, the circuit is com'pleted'through only theincandescent bulb described myflinvention, What I Letters Having nowfully claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprised by a spherical body having alight reflective surface, a toroidal fluorescent tube surrounding saidbody, and means secured to said body extending radially outwardlytherefrom I carrying the toroidal tube at their outer ends.

their outer ends, and fastening means for securing said.

arms to said hemispherical sections and the latter to each other.

3. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by twohemispherical sections aligned along a same, radially extending arms onsaid hemispherical sections adapted to carry a toroidal tube at theirouter ends, and fastening means for securing said arms to said hemspherical sections.

4. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised 'by twohemispherical sections aligned along a horizontal diametrical plane, andinternally threaded socket secured to one of said hemispherical sectionsalong the vertical axis of same, radially extending arms on saidhemispherical sections adapted to carry a toroidal tube at their outerends, and fastening means for securing said arms to said hemisphericalsections.

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by twohemispherical sections aligned along a horizontal diametrical plane, ascrew plug secured to one of said hemispherical sections along thevertical axis of same, an internally threaded socket secured to theother of said hemispherical sections along the vertical axis of same,radially extending arms on said hemispherical sections adapted to carrya toroidal tube at their outer ends, and fastening means for securingsaid arms to said hemispherical sections. v

6. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by twohemispherical sections each having a light reflective surface alignedalong a horizontal diametrical plane, a starter, an on and oif switchanda ballast reactor mounted within said hemispherical sections, a toroidaltube surrounding said sections when joined, radially extending arms onsaid hemispherical sections carrying the toroidal tube at their outerends, and fastening means for securing said arms to said hemisphericalsections.

7. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by twohemispherical sections aligned along a horizontal diametrical plane, ascrew plug secured to one of said hemispherical sections along thevertical axis of same, a starter, an on and off switch and a ballastreactor mounted within said hemispherical sections, radially extendingarms on said hemispherical sections adapted to carry a toroidal tube attheir outer ends, and fastening means for securing'said arms to saidhemispherical sections. a

8. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by two'hemispherical sections aligned along a horizontal diametrical plane, aninternally threaded socket secured toone of'said hemispherical sectionsalong the vertical axis of same, a starter, an on and off switch and aballast reactor mounted within said hemispherical sections, radiallyextending arms on said hemispherical sections adapted to carry atoroidal tube at their outer ends, and fastening means for securing saidarms to said hemispherical sections. 7

9. A fluorescent lighting fixture including a body comprised by twohemispherical sections aligned along a horizontal diametrical' plane, ascrew plug secured to one of said hemispherical sections along thevertical axis dially extending arms on said hemispherical sectionsadapted to carry a toroidal tube at their outer ends, and fasteningmeans for securing said arms to said hemispherical sections. e

prised by two hemispherical sections aligned along a horizontaldiametrical plane, a screw plug secured to one of said hemisphericalsections along the vertical axis of 10. A fluorescent lighting fixtureincluding a body comhorizontal diametrical plane, a screw plug securedto one of said hemispherical sections along the vertical axis of same,an internally threaded socket secured to the other of said hemsiphericalsections along the axis of same, a ballast reactor, a starter, an on andoff switch mounted within said hemispherical sections, said on and offswitch being adapted to close one first contact, a pair of contacts, anda fourth contact, radially extending arms on said hemispherical sectionsadapted to carry a toroidal a conductor from one terminal of the screwplug to the 5 ballast reactor, a conductor from the ballast reactor to asocket in the connector for one side of one electrode of the toroidaltube, a conductor from a socket in the connector for the other side ofsaid electrode of the toroidal tube to the starter, a conductor from thestarter to a socket in the connector for one side of the secondelectrode of the toroidal tube, a conductor from one socket in theconnector for the other side of the second electrode of thetoroidal'tube to the first contact and one of the pair of contacts ofthe on and off switch, a branch circuit including a conductor from thesecond terminal of the screw plug to the socket, and a conductor fromthe socket to the other of the pair of contacts and the third contact ofthe on and oil switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,603,417 Schaller Oct. 19, 1926 2,298,961 Miller Oct. 13, 19422,472,597 Levy June 7, 1949

